Electric switch



. Fume 8 1926. wsmm B. E. GETCHELL I ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Feb. '7, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 patented June 8, limit.

stars l BULL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING GQMPANY, E PLAIMVILLE, CONNECTIC'UI, A.

COYEl-PORA'EIQN 0L5 CONNECTICUT.

. smiormo sermon.

a lies-om flied seminar My invention relates particularly to the" operating mechanism for an enclosed switch of a quick-break type. The main obyeot is to provide a simple, compact, but efieeti ve mechanism for opening and closing the 3l1- coil with a snap action. In switches of this character the main switch. member usually is oscillated approximately 90, whereas the spring throwing mechanism requires a movement of approximately 180 in order to be most ellcctive. in accordance with my invention l have providedan operatin handle which requires a movement of oiily ap proximately 60 from the on to oil position, and vice verse.

Fig. 1 is a front view of .a. switch embodying the improvements of my invention, the cover of the box being shown open and broken away, and the switch being in the oli' or open circuit position.

.2 is a side view with the cover closed. the operating handle being shown in full lines in the oll' or open circuit position, and

in dot-and-dasii lines in the on or closed .circ'uit position.

Fig". 3 is a transverse sectional View showing the switch in the open circuit posilion.

Fig. 4 shows a detail side view of the operating handle and gear.

' Fig. 5 is a. side view of the switch proper shown in an outline of the case, the parts oi the switch being in the open circuit position.

Fig. (l is a side view of the operating mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a composite it"i'raginentary View showing the operating handle throwing mechanism and switch contact in the open circuit position, the remainder of the switch and easing being omitted.

Fig.8 is a side view similar to Fig. 7 showing an operating handle throwing mechanisi'n and switch member in the closed circuit or on position.

Fig. i) is a 't'ragn'ientary sectional View showing the hub of the operating and throwing mechanism.

' The box 10 may he of any suitable type provided with any suitable form of cover ll. The switch proper has an insulating base 12 carrying the stationary switch contacts 13 and 14. The rotary insulating drum or carrier 15 loosely carries the main switch I. 19%. Serial No. 7,529.

blades 16 and it is pivoted in the side hra clo ets 17'. This carrier has a projecting pin the side brackets. The operating-"handle 19 s on the outside of the box and the -throw mg member 20 15 mounted on the inside of 18 which extends through a slot in one of the box and adaptedto engage the pin 18. v The throwing spring 21 is supported on the rod 22 which is guided at one end in the forked bracket 23 and connected at the end 24 to the throwing member 20. This hl'llijlw ing member 20 is supported on a disc 25 theedges of which are held by the rivet winch hind together the parts of the The hearing washer .27 is supported in the side walls of thebox and flanked by-discs 28 and 29, which bear against the outer and inner surfaces of the side of the box. The

member 29 constitutes a locking plate which.

cooperates with the latch 30 to hold the rover closed when the switch is in the on.

position.

The gear 31, which constitutes a part of the hub, located between the washers 32 and 28. The handle 19 is pivoted at 33 on the sideotihehox end provided with a gear segment 3 which meshes with the mutilated gear 3,1. The throwing member 20 is provided with. slots. 35 which permit the throwing member and the rivets 26 of the hub to have relative freedom of action.

One or more washers 36 may be interposed between the locking plate 29 and the throwing member 20 so as to space'the throwing n' ein'ber the requisite distance away from the inner wall of he box.

To operate the switch it is simply necessary to swing the handle from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 to the position shown in dot-and-dash lines. This short motion can be easily efi'ect-ed either by the hand or lingers, or by means of a cord or hook which may be readily inserted int-he opening 37'. As the handle is swung u wardly, as viewed in Fig. 2, it rotates te gear 3i and hub clockwise. The operation perhaps will he better understood from Figs. 7 and 8, where the direction. of the movement of the handle is from left to right instead of up and down, as shown in Fig. 2.

As the pins or rivets 26 reach the ends of the slots 35 in the throwing member 20; the

too

compresses the spring 21.

As soon as the Elli connection 24 of the spring with the throwing member passes the center line of the hub, the spring will throw the member 20 and cause one arm to engage the pin 18 and .throw the switch member 16 into the posiswitch member 16 after it has started to open the circuit.

To close the circuit, the operation is reversed the handle 19 is swung to the left, as in Fig. 8, rotating the gear 31 anti-clockwise and compressing the spring 21 until it passes the center line and suddenly throws the member 20 so as to operate the switch member and open the circuit with a snap action.

The operating handle 19 is preferably provided with curved shoulders 38 at the 0pposite ends of the arcuate slot 39 which engage the toothless section of the gear 31 in the positions of Figs. 7 and 8 and thus serve as stops to limit the swinging movement of the handle. This positive stop prevents any undue strain being applied to the teeth of the rack 34 and gear 31.

It will thus be seen that although the handle has a very short movement and, therefore, can be readily and quickly. operated, the throwing mechanism has a maximum movement for properly aifecting the quick break action.

It should also be understood that this method of o eration may be a plied to ordinary switc es without quickreak action.

claim:

1. An enclosed switch comprising an oscillating switch member, a spring operated throwing member having lost motion connection with said switch member, a gear having lost motion connection with said throwing member, and a handle having an opening for said gear with an annular gear segment mesh' with said gear.

2. An en osed switch comprising a'box. an oscillating switch member and a spring operated throwing member inside of Sill! box havin a lost motion connection with said switc member, a gear outside of said box having a lost motion connection with said throwin member, and a handle having an opening gor said gear with an annular gear segment meshing with said gear.

3. An enclosed switch comprismg a box,

- an oscillating switch member and a operated throwing member inside of said box oscillable through an angle of approximately 180 and having lost motion connection with said switch member, motion connection with said throwing memher, and a handle having a gear ent meshing with said gear and osciliable through gear cingv located between said gear segment'of the pivot of said handle.

4; In an enclosed switch, a box, a movable switch member therein, an external gear rotatably supported in the side of the box and connected to said switch member, a swinging handle hinged to the outside of the box and having a toothed segment meshing with said gear and also havin shoulders engaging said gear to limit the t row of the handle without straining said teeth.

5. In an enclosed switch, a box, a switch within the box, a switch operating means, a gear member connected with the switch operating means, and a pivoted external switch handle having a gear rack engagement with said gear member, said gear member being located between said gear rack and the pivot of said handle.

6. In an enclosed switch, a pivoted operating handle having a slot with gear teeth along one edge, and a gear meshing with said teeth and sei'vin as a stop co-acting with the end of said s ot.

BENJAMIN E. GEICHELL.

a gear having lost an angle of approximately said 

